The Upper School Physical Education program builds a framework for a lifetime of activity and healthy living by providing a regular opportunity for students to participate in a wide variety of physical activities and skill development experiences that build on the core skills introduced in Lower School.

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Five days in each six-day rotation, fifth-grade students participate in a variety of instructional physical activities at a beginner level in order to develop a solid foundation of prerequisite skills and competencies.

Instruction includes an introduction to training principles and activities that can enhance health-related fitness as students pursue personal fitness goals. The program includes social and cognitive development as well as physical skills, including a scope and sequence of activities to challenge students of all abilities and skill levels.

Students are given both formative and summative assessments throughout the year along with feedback for growth. P.E. is graded on a pass/fail basis.

Sixth-grade students continue to participate in a variety of instructional and developmentally appropriate physical activities. The focus is on developing the fundamental skills in each major unit. This class incorporates more in-depth instruction in strength and conditioning activities that can enhance health-related fitness as students make progress in achieving personal fitness goals. Students are introduced to tracking their daily activity levels and encouraged to reflect on how active they are. The program continues to emphasize social and cognitive development and includes a scope and sequence of activities to challenge students of all abilities and skill levels.

Sixth-grade assessment addresses students’ progress towards competency building on fundamental skills developed in fifth grade, their fitness development, and quizzes on techniques and basic game rules. Students are given formative and summative assessments throughout the year along with feedback for growth. P.E. is graded on a pass/fail basis.

The emphasis in seventh grade is on developing more advanced skills in each sport to build on the fundamentals developed in sixth grade. The principles of fitness training are further applied and the benefits of various training methods to enhance skills and fitness are explored. Students continue to track their weekly activity levels and write a self-assessment on their lifestyle. The program continues to emphasize social and cognitive development, encouraging students to take more leadership roles in the group and to work with classmates of all abilities and skill levels.

Seventh-grade assessment addresses students’ progress towards proficiency of skills built to competency in sixth grade, fitness development, and quizzes on techniques and basic game rules. Students are given both formative and summative assessments throughout the year along with feedback for growth. P.E. is graded on a pass/fail basis.

Eighth-grade students are instructed in a variety of developmentally appropriate physical activities in the same areas as in fifth through seventh grades, but the emphasis is on the application of the previously developed skills, tactics, and rules of gameplay situations. Students receive further instruction in methods to enhance skills and fitness and are asked to demonstrate the ability to apply these principles. Some years, students complete fitness development projects to illustrate their understanding of the principles of fitness development. As eighth graders, students are encouraged to work cooperatively as teams and to explore their role and contribution to their team through games and challenges in the Challenge P.E. activity. As such, group dynamics are explored and individual roles on each student’s team are self-identified. Students agree upon a social contract that is used to establish social expectations.

Assessments address students’ application of skills, their fitness development, and their fitness plan. Students are given both formative and summative assessments throughout the year along with feedback for growth. P.E. is graded on a pass/fail basis.

Drew Hetzel

Burke's mission is to educate, encourage and empower girls. Our school combines academic excellence with an appreciation for childhood so that students thrive as learners, develop a strong sense of self, contribute to community, and fulfill their potential, now and throughout life.